Bradford Cemetery, Persifer Twp., Knox County, IL

The Bradford Cemetery is located in the North East Quarter of Section 26 in Persifer Township. It is north of U. S. Route 150 on the Benson Farm. It is in very bad condition. The stones are all on the ground and probably a lot of them are buried. The following list was made by Donna Folger and Katherine Spencer, members of the Knox County Genealogical Society., as I am also, May 21, 1978. I have yet to visit this cemetery but plan on finding it to see what I can find if anything. Katherine has told me there might not be visible signs of it anymore. Just have to see.

created June 22, 2005 2:30Am

Tuesday, March 21, 2006 01:41:25 PM

If you have any additional information on people who are buried here, but are not listed on this web page, your contribution would be most appreciated! Thank you!
click on my little doggie to email me. Hope somebody who knows these people or about them will see this and come forward with more information thanks.

Update! As I've just recently become the State Coordinator for the Illinois Saving Graves , I wanted to visit the abandoned cemeteries listed on the endangered page of Illinois in the county that I live in which is Knox. I have been visiting them all as of late to get updates on the persons buried there; plus, on the abandoned ones have wanted for sometime to do something about them. So, I emailed the person , Andrew Collopy-Fritz, who submitted them and got a return email about meeting him and going to him. He has with the Dahinda United Methodist Men's from the Dahinda United Methodist Church, Andrew is also a member and very active in the Dahinda United Methodist Men, formed some kind of a reliance to take care and clean up the Bradford Cemetery and the Corbin Cemetery. My hat is off to these gentlemen. They deserve all of our thanks for their time, effort, in going to the trouble to clean these up and put them t rights.

Visited by Foxie, Jordan, & Kate on June 24, 2005.... This is after Andrew and his group have cleaned out some of the debris from the tombstones. They are lying on the ground and such. The photos below were taken on our way out and area view of the cemetery.

This cemetery used to be located on the Benson Farm. It is now located on the Gibbs farm. There is an easement running along a cornfield on RT 150 just before you get to the Dahinda Road turn off, on Rt. 150 heading from Galesburg to Peoria, that you drive back into like going into the cornfield and then turn to follow along the fence line to get to the cemetery. Takes you right to it. Thanks Mrs. Gibbs for letting me drive back there today.

This is how I feel when I think about all the work these Dahinda United Methodist Men have done to these two cemeteries

Thanks again Guys....

created June 24th, 2005

Tuesday, March 21, 2006 01:41:25 PM updated and uploaded.

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Surname	Given Name	Birth Date	Death Date	Age	Other information
Bradford	Alva		Mar 20 1869	1m 20d	dau of W. W. & V. S.

Bradford	Charles		Apr 25 1868	90y 05m 11d
Excerpt from Edward Wyman's bio: Edward J. Wyman was reared in Persifer Township. He has added to his first purchase of eighty acres of land and now owns five hundred and forty-nine acres. February 04, 1858, in Stark County, he was married to Susan Elizabeth Bradford. Six of their children attained maturity: Mrs. Mary A. Eiker, deceased; Mrs. Alice Steffen; William L.; Minerva J.; Clark E.; Rufus C. Mrs Wyman's Father, Harvey Bradford, was born in Maine, September 27, 1809, and was the son of Charles and Elizabeth Brown Bradford, who were active abolitionists and came to Illinois in 1833. Charles and his son, Harvey S., were highly respected in the community. Mrs. Wyman has held the office of School Treasurer for Two years. The Bradford's were descendants of Governor William Bradford, of the Mayflower. Harvey and his wife are buried in the Russell Cemetery. March 21, 2006 This cemetery needs some help and I think the Methodist Men's Group would welcome it. Here we have descendants of people who came over here on the Mayflower; plus, being related to one of our later Governor's of the state of IL and look what the cemetery looks like. It really needs more attention and help from you out there. Is this how we want our remains to look like after being laid to rest? Feel free to email me. Thanks for your help.
Bradford	Elizabeth P.		Jan 06 1835	53y 09m
Bradford	John		Aug 15 1872	07y 00m 03d	son of C. A. & A.
Bradford	Lillie		Mar 13 1870	01m 11d	dau of W. W. &
Bradford	Lovina T.		Aug 01 1855	08y 04m 22d	dau of Wm S & N "Here I'll be an angel, and with my sister stand."
Bradford	Nancy S.		Apr 11 1878	58y 11m 20d	obituary below
Out of the Knox County Republican Newspaper; Knoxville, IL April 12, 1878: Mrs. Nancy S. Bradford, widow of Wm Bradford, of Persifer, departed this life April 11, 1 A. M. She was laid to rest in the old family burying-ground Friday, 12, 1 A. M. The funeral discourse was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Adams. The deceased was well liked by all her neighbors as was convinced by the large attendance at her funeral. She was almost 59 years of age. She has gone to that happy and better land where sickness and sorrow are not known. We extend to her relatives and many friends our sincerest sympathy.
Bradford	Wm. S.		Nov 03 1871	58y 03m 18d


Pinkston	Clarinda Jane
Pinkston	Mary Angeline

From the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois, Page #656:

Bradford, Harvey S., farmer, was born in Maine, Sept. 27, 1809; parents were Charles and Elizabeth Brown Bradford, the former a native of New Hampshire, and the latter of Maine; was educated in the common schools; his early life was passed on the farm; learned the tanner's trade, but gave it up for farming; removed from Maine to Ohio, thence to Knox County; married Hester Whitter Oct. 24, 1836. They have been the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living; he has been very successful in business and well prospered. In political views he is republican. Post office, Gilson. His parents are listed above in the Bradford Cemetery.

Bradford, H. S., of whose history we give a few brief details, is a farmer on section 3, in Haw Creek Township. He was born in the State of Maine, September 27, 1800, and is the son of Charles and Elizabeth Clark Brown Bradford. The father of the subject of this sketch was a native of Massachusetts and his mother of Maine. The Father in his younger days was a potter by trade, and removed to Ohio when his son, H. S., was but four years old. There he followed farming, and about the year 1833 he removed to Knoxville, Illinois, with his family. They came overland with teams. The father bought and improved land in Persifer township, in this county, and made a home for himself and his family. He died on the Homestead about the year 1873. the mother died at the same place in 1833; directly after coming to Illinois. This man's name is Harvey

The subject of this notice was married to Harriet Whiten in 1835. To this union were born nine children, named as follows: Elizabeth, Anna M. William, Sophia, Louisa, Rufus, Alla, and Olive. His son William was a soldier in the late War for the Union. Mr. Bradford has 217 acres of land in Knox County, with good and comfortable buildings of all kinds. In politics he is a Republican.*****

Bradford, Winslow W., son of Wm S. and Nancy Youngs Bradford, both natives of Ohio; was born in Persifer township, Knox county, Aug. 13, 1843; his early life was passed on the farm, received his education from the common schools; was drummer in company H, 102nd Illinois Infantry. April 26, 1866, married Victoria S. Beck. They have been the parents of seven children, of whom five are now living; removed from Knox county to Galena, Ill., but returned; he has held the offices of Township Clerk and Road Commissioner in 1869 and 1872; in 1870 joined the church of United Brethren, of which he was Trustee and Treasurer in 1871; he has been very much prospered as a farmer. He is a Republican, Post-office, Knoxville.

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